A high-resolution carbonate C-isotope (δ13Ccarb) stratigraphy for the Aptian is presented for the Cau core from Alicante, Spain. The studied succession, lower to upper Aptian, embraces the record of the Early Aptian OAE 1a. The data provided includes δ13Ccarb, δ18O isotopes, Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and CaCO3. Four overlapping cores (D1 to D4) were drilled with an almost 100% recovery of a total (corrected for dip) thickness of 143 m. The cores were split in two parts. One half was described, photographed and scanned, and then sampled with a drill to obtain powdered samples for geochemical analyses. Also, small solid samples were taken from the drill for biostratigraphic characterization of the nannofossil and planktonic foraminifera associations. Second half was stored for archive and future research.

CaCO3: samples were taken at an average spacing of 10 cm. Total samples analysed: 741.C and O isotopes: average spacing of 20 cm. Total samples analysed: 752.TOC: average spacing of 1.5 m. Total samples analysed: 101.Biostratigraphy: average spacing of 115 cm. Total samples studied: 129 for calcareous nannofossils, 54 for planktonic foraminifera.